A Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale

Okay, the Hearts in the Gardens Valentine's Day party is over with. Next project? The first ever Buffalo-style Garden Art Sale. Art Sale will be at the Delaware Park Parkside Lodge on Sunday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

We're looking for vendors now -- spread the word -- artists sculptures, painters, and vendors of unique, antique and creative art -- re-purposed, found art, architectural remnants, anything that can be appreciated in a garden, or is inspired by the garden -- artwork jewelry. No mass-market items, no resin-based molded tchotkes. If you know of someone that would be a good fit to sell items in our Garden Art Sale, please go to the National Garden Festival site for details and an application. Application Deadline is March 9.


What makes a garden Buffalo-style? Well, first there was this quote from TheAtlantic.com website: "There are Japanese gardens, English gardens, Russian gardens (i.e., barely controlled wildernesses) and what I would call Buffalo gardens - eclectic, funky mixes in which found objects and exotic-looking surrounding rooftops figure prominently."

And then, Elizabeth Licata of GardenRant.com/GardeningWhileIntoxicated.com and I fleshed out what did make Buffalo gardens different from others. We found that in Buffalo, you find small urban gardens that pack a big punch — including cheerfully brash juxtapositions of colorful perennials and unique annuals, minimal or no lawns, and creative uses of found objects and architectural artifacts as sculpture. A Buffalo-style garden will have the patina of a well-used, customized space, often with complete disregard for garden design conventions. Buffalo gardeners take advantage of the sides of houses and fences by hanging artwork, sculptures, grates, mirrors, plants and more— incorporating the impressive and diverse architecture found throughout every neighborhood.

And then, I heard from Randy Hohle, an associate professor at D'Youville College is working on a research paper on the effect of garden tours on post-industrial communities. He's not finished, but one unexpected find about Buffalo gardens he states as, "My analysis indicates that Garden Walk has successfully tied together two communities – artists and folks active in voluntary life.  The other Garden Walks seem to have either lots of artist creativity but lack the community structure of involvement, or have the community structure (i.e. bloc club) but lack the artistic field.  I think that’s why Buffalo Garden Walk has been so successful.  By fusing the two communities, which may have had some overlap to start with, it has managed bring in new people to constantly replenish the number of members who may drop out for a year or so before returning.  It also leads to a community structure of support between residents that produces some spectacular gardens." More to come from Randy...